Anderson/Tokarski shine in net
Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski figure to split starts for the road trip, barring anything unforeseen. And in their previous outings in March, both goaltenders have shined when called upon.
While Anderson saved less than 90% of shots on goal in two of his last five starts, he’s also logged games with .938, .944, and .968 save percentages. Tokarski logged the Sabres first shutout since October 2019 in a 1-0 thriller against the Flames, and played perhaps his best game against Washington on Friday.
For this road trip, look for Anderson to get hot again after a mediocre performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins and for Tokarski to log another memorable game. Another motivator for Tokarski is that he’s looking to at least continue his career somewhere come 2022-23, so every outing counts.
While Anderson is the clear frontrunner to stick around the Sabres locker room next season, it’s no guarantee he returns. Anderson will turn 41 in May, and he may either retire or opt to play somewhere closer to his Florida home.
Tokarski toiled in obscurity for nearly 13 seasons. So perhaps it’s not so bold to predict strong performances from now until the season ends in late April.